Another Bird Flies into the Top 100

The Eagles had their third player make NFL’s Top 100 list on Sunday night joining Trent Cole (73rd) and Asante Samuel (54th). DeSean Jackson came in just behind fellow wide receivers Calvin Johnson (27th) and Roddy White (24th) at number 29 on the list.

Offensive guard Todd Herremans had a lot to say about DeSean when he was presenting him. One thing that stood out, and all Eagles fans know is when Todd said this: “The ball is in the air and it looks like it’ll be overthrown by ten yards and [DeSean] puts it into another gear.” Michael Vick even said that DeSean is one of his favorite receivers because there is no way to overthrow him. He is arguably the biggest threat in the league to take it all the way on any play.

Since joining the league 3 years ago, DeSean leads the league in yards per catch and punt return yards. Yes, I said it, punt return yards. You know, the category that people associate with Joshua Cribbs and Devin Hester. DeSean Jackson has 99 returns since 2008, racking up an impressive 1,112 yards and 11.2 yard per return average. The other top two returners associated with punt returns have been Joshua Cribbs (86-848-9.8) and Devin Hester (89-949-10.6) and DeSean’s numbers simply dwarf those of Cribb’s and Hester’s.

While the 5’10” 175 pound receiver made his most famous play with time running out, DeSean usually makes his impact early in the game. Fourteen of his 24 touchdowns so far in his career have been in the first quarter. Nine of these scores have been the first of the game.

As Merrill Reese said, “There is not a defensive back alive that can cover DeSean Jackson.” Year after year Jackson supports this statement by burning defensive backfields and special teams units.

DeSean has yet to reach his peak and we are in for an interesting ride with this miniscule weapon of mass destruction.